The PFAS Health Study Information for the Katherine community 21 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The PFAS Health Study Information for the Katherine community 21 June 2018 Dr Katherine Todd National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health Research School of Population Health

Plan For Today • What is epidemiology? • About the PFAS Health Study • Community Reference Panel • Open discussion The PFAS Health Study June 2018 2

What is Epidemiology? Epidemiology is the study of disease distribution and frequency in a population. Epidemiology also investigates the relationship between exposure and health outcomes , which is a key part of the ANU epidemiological study. The PFAS Health Study June 2018 3

What are Epidemiological Studies? Epidemiological studies ask these core questions; WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY When did Where do Why is the Who has What people start people disease developed disease is developing live that occurring? the occurring the have the disease? most? disease? disease? The PFAS Health Study June 2018 4

What Can an Epidemiological Study Tell Us? If people with higher exposure are more likely to have a disease If people living or working in a specific place are more likely to be more exposed or more likely to develop a disease If there is link between other factors and the development of a disease How exposure makes people develop a disease If individuals will develop other diseases in the future because of their exposure The PFAS Health Study June 2018 5

PFAS Health Study 1. Development of study protocols 2. Systematic review of health effects Phase I 3. Voluntary Blood Testing Program 4. Focus groups of residents 5. Blood serum study Phase II 6. Cross-sectional survey 7. Data linkage study The PFAS Health Study June 2018 6

Voluntary Blood Testing Program • Participation has been high in Katherine • Those who have already had their blood tested will be contacted by the research team and provided with an information sheet about the blood testing. The PFAS Health Study June 2018 7

Focus Groups • What are people’s worries about exposure to PFAS and their health? • 8 focus groups were held in Jan/Feb 2018 in Williamtown and Oakey • Currently finalising ethical approval to hold focus groups in Katherine • Investigation zone residents and workers from Defence Bases • Use this information for the cross-sectional survey The PFAS Health Study June 2018 8

Blood serum study • What are blood levels of PFAS in residents in Investigation Areas compared to people living in the surrounding area? • Approximately 1,000 samples per town • Mapping of PFAS results and other factors The PFAS Health Study June 2018 9

Cross-sectional survey • What factors are linked with high blood PFAS levels within the Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine communities? • Help us understand: • Sickness and other health problems • Health worries • Feelings of distress and anxiety • Ways people have been exposed to PFAS The PFAS Health Study June 2018 10

Data linkage study • Are rates of diseases higher among people who have lived in Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine than in the general Australian population? • Use Medicare information and other databases • Australian Cancer Database • Admitted Patient Data Collections • National Perinatal Data Collection The PFAS Health Study June 2018 11

Consultation & Communication • Community reference panel • Community meetings • Reports, presentations & publications The PFAS Health Study June 2018 12

Community Reference Panel We are looking for interested community members to be on the panel The panel will: • Provide the ANU team with a link with the people of Williamtown, Oakey and Katherine; • Help make the study successful by working with the communities • Help hear any community worries about the epidemiological study The PFAS Health Study June 2018 13

PFAS Health Study Team • Martyn Kirk, ANU • Katherine Todd, ANU • Rosemary Korda, ANU • Susan Trevenar, ANU • Robyn Lucas, ANU • Kayla Smurthwaite, ANU • Cate D’Este, ANU • Liz Walker, ANU • Cathy Banwell, ANU • Jochen Mueller, UQ • Tambri Housen, ANU • Bruce Armstrong, USyd • Phil Batterham, ANU • Archie Clements, Curtin • Aparna Lal, ANU • Jennifer Bräunig, UQ • Adrian Miller, CDU The PFAS Health Study June 2018 14

Contacting the ANU Research Team Our Email: pfas.health.study@anu.edu.au Our Website: nceph.anu.edu.au/pfas-health-study The PFAS Health Study June 2018 15

Thank you The PFAS Health Study June 2018 16